2017 Range Rover Velar 22 | 02 | 2017
THIS IS THE first official photograph of the new Range Rover Velar, which will sit between the Evoque and Sport, and go head-to-head with the Porsche Macan. It will go on-sale in Scottish dealerships later this year, priced around £45,000.
Plugging the gap between the £40,000 Evoque and £80,000 Sport, the Velar is described by Land Rover as “filling the white space between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport”.
This first image shows a familiar design language, as seen on the existing Range Rover models, but with far smoother lines. Thankfully there’s a relatively small rear window which enhances the Velar’s coupé-like styling, making the model less boxy than the current Range Rovers.
There’s also a huge panoramic sunroof which results in an airy cabin and offers potential buyers a glimpse of the infotainment system. This is shown on two screens — one wide and central, and one behind the wheel — and closely reflects the interior shown on Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace SUV seen at the LA motor show in November last year.
“We call the Velar the avant-garde Range Rover. It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand,” Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design boss, said.
“It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything.”
The name ‘Velar’ comes from the original Range Rover prototypes from 1969. It was used by development engineers to hide the identity of the 26 pre-production Range Rovers and is derived from the Latin ‘velaris’, meaning to veil or cover.
It’s understood that all Velar models will be fitted with four-wheel drive and be built alongside the Range Rover Sport and F-Pace, at Solihull, West Midlands. And that means an aluminium body.
at laugh the Velar will be fitted with a Ford-built V6, but this will quickly be replaced by Ingenium in-line six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Expect a plug-in hybrid, based on the 295bhp four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine, to join the range later.
Related: Audi reveals Q8 SUV concept
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Jim McGill